Abdul's Blog: 03/21/18

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Police arrest 15-yr-old Pupil with a gun in Bayelsa

A 15-year-old pupil at the Community Secondary School, Akenfa-Epie, in the Yenagoa Area of Bayelsa State, identified only as Emmanuel, has been arrested with a gun.

Emmanuel was allegedly arrested on Monday with a locally-made pistol during lecture hours.

It was learnt that the teenager was apprehended while in school uniform by some indigenes of Akenfa community, led by a vigilance group, and handed over to the police.

Suspected armed cultists have attacked the Divisional headquarter of the Nigerian Police Force in Oporoma, the headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government area and set the station ablaze.

It was gathered that the attack on the police station was carried out after a suspected cultist involved in the rescue mission of another cult member from the police was shot dead.

According to Arch convener of a Non-Governmental Organization, Patriotism Advancement and Community Orientation Network, Comrade Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine, the incident threw the community into chaos.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kogi state on Wednesday announced dates for the commencement of the recall process of the embattled lawmaker representing Kogi West, Senator Dino Melaye.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Prof. James Apam, disclosed that following the appellate court ruling that INEC can commence the recall process, the commission has fixed the last Saturday of April as the verification date.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has described the release of 101 of the 110 abducted Dapchi schoolgirls as the answer to prayers of millions of Nigerians.

In a statements signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian security forces and the government of Yobe State for the efforts that led to the release of the girls, stating that the government should do all within its power to ensure the return of the remaining Dapchi and Chibok girls.

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze undeclared assets that were traced to the Deputy Senate President, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu.

FG, via an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/284/2018, specifically applied for an interim court order “temporarily attaching/forfeiting the properties listed in Schedule B hereunder, to the Federal Government of Nigeria, pending the conclusion of further inquiry/investigation by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property and/or possible arraignment of the Respondent”.

Lagos market traders paraded for armed robbery and cultism Lailasnews

Six Ladipo Market traders have been arrested and paraded by the police for their alleged involvement in armed robbery and cultism in Lagos. It was gathered that the suspects were Nwapa Chukwuebuka, 20, Oganna Effita, 22, Seth Frank,29, Obiora Nwagbaso, 20, Chibike Ozor, 25 and Moses Ikechukwu, 25.

They were paraded by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal at the Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos. The traders were among other suspected criminals paraded by the police for committing various criminal offences including armed robbery and cultism.

Confusion as OAU management forces students out of hostels Lailasnews

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has begun throwing out students and their luggage, in a bid to renovate the hostels, after a short notice was issued 24 hours earlier. A confrontation erupted at the Moremi hall, a female hostel, where some students including student activists and journalists were reportedly manhandled.

According to Premium Times, Gbenga Oloniran, the secretary of the Anti Neo-liberal attacks against Students Association (ANSA), and a female student were reportedly ‘arrested’ by the security unit of the university.

Super Eagles forward Henry Onyekuru has returned to light training three months after he sustained a knee injury while on loan at Anderlecht.

The 21-year-old copped the knee injury while in action for Anderlecht in a Belgian Juplier game on 22 December, 2017 and had to return to his parent club Everton FC in England to continue his recovery.

The Police Command in Nasarawa State says it has arrested four suspected rustlers, recovered 176 cows and 64 sheep at Bakoro village in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

DSP Kennedy Idirisu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, told newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia.

He said the arrest followed a joint operation by the counter-terrorism unit of the police with the Federal and State Anti-robbery Squad.

Under-fire Alexis Sanchez may be trying too hard to impress as he struggles to produce his best form at Manchester United, according to Old Trafford great Andy Cole.

The Chilean has netted just once in 10 matches and produced a number of under-par performances since completing a January move from Arsenal, and was left on the bench for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.

Former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been accused of tax evasion and could face eight and a half years in prison, according to a judicial source.

The former Spanish international is accused of three crimes of tax fraud between 2010 and 2012, for income related to the exploitation of his image rights.

The complaint against Alonso is that he avoided paying taxes on his image rights in Spain by handing the rights to a company based on the Portuguese island of Madeira, where he was exempt from taxes.

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has signed a contract extension until 2021.

The 27-year-old signed for United on in August 2014 from Sporting Lisbon for £16m and has gone on to win an FA Cup, a League Cup, the Europa League and a Community Shield.

“I am extremely happy to extend my stay at this great club,” the Argentine told the club’s website. “When I joined, my aim was to help the team win trophies and we have done that over the past couple of seasons.

An 18-year-old nursing mother, Maryam Magaji, on Wednesday dragged one Badamasi Salihu, 20, whom she claimed was her lover, to a Sharia Court at Magajin Gari, Kaduna, for refusing to marry her.

She told the court that Salihu dated her for a year and promised to marry her, only to turn his back on her after getting her pregnant.

The Anambra Central Traditional Rulers’ Council has rejoiced with parents of Dapchi community in Yobe over the release of some of the abducted school-girls in the community.”

The Chairman of the council, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno, said this to the News Agency of Nigeria while reacting to the recent release of some of the girls on Wednesday morning.

Zimbabwean junior doctors who have been on a three-week strike have turned down government offer to increase their on call allowances by 50 per cent and are demanding for further dialogue, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported Wednesday.

However, Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa reiterated his appeal to the doctors to return to work, saying government had offered what it could afford for now.

Diego Costa has told team-mate Antoine Griezmann he is best off staying at Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann has scored 23 goals in 38 appearances for Atletico this season and said on Wednesday he wants his future sorted before the start of this year´s World Cup.

The French forward told L´Equipe he hopes “to travel to Russia without concern” after Barcelona were forced in January to deny they had already struck a deal to sign the player. Manchester United were also credited with a strong interest last summer.

Six suspected kidnappers have met their waterloo in Ogun State as they were shot dead during a gun duel with operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in the state.

The hoodlums were killed on Tuesday in a forest at Fidiwo area, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Porn star Stormy Daniels teased President Donald Trump Tuesday over their alleged tryst as it emerged she passed a 2011 lie detector test in which she claimed they had unprotected sex.

The polygraph results came to light as pressure mounted on the president, with an ex-Playboy model suing to be released from another non-disclosure agreement while a former reality star alleging sexual assault took him to court for defamation.

The federal government has confirmed the released of some of the girls abducted by Boko Haram militants from a secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe State.

The government said only 76 girls were released Wednesday, meaning the militants have not freed 34 of the girls.

The British Government says Nigeria’s population growth poses a security risk if it remains unchecked.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, said this in Abuja at an event organised by Wilton Park in collaboration with the African Peace Building Network of the Social Science Research Council and African Leadership Centre of the Kings College London.

The leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere, the Middle Belt Forum and other groups have told President Muhammadu Buhari to end attacks by herdsmen, killings, kidnappings and other vices in the country.

The groups, which decried the level of insecurity in the country, told the President to act promptly to save the country.

The Federal Government yesterday re-arraigned four of Nnamdi Kanu’s co-accused, Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a three-count amended charge bordering on treasonable felony.

The four accused persons whose trial had been separated from that of the still being sought leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Kanu, pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges initiated against them.

Government Science Secondary School, Kurfi, Katsina State, has been shut and its students sent home after an unknown epidemic claimed the lives of eight pupils of the school.

A lawmaker representing Kurfi Constituency at the Katsina House of Assembly, Kabir Lawal, made the revelation on the floor of the House on Monday under matters of urgent public importance. He, however, did not provide further details.

Two Myanmar reporters have appeared in a court 100 days after they were arrested on charges of possessing secret government documents.

The court in Yangon is holding preliminary hearings to decide whether the two journalists, who work for the Reuters news agency, will face charges under the Official Secrets Act – a British Colonial era law that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Oil prices rose to their highest level in three weeks on Tuesday as tension in the Middle East and the possibility of further falls in Venezuelan output helped offset United States crude production.

Brent crude futures for May delivery rose to approximately 69 dollars a barrel- their highest level since late February.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for April delivery rose to 63.78 dollars a barrel, a 2.8 per cent gain.

The Nigerian Army says its soldiers on counterinsurgency operations in the northeast have arrested one Bubayi Isa, a wanted Boko Haram terrorist in Borno state.

Bubayi, said to be number 37 in the list of wanted Boko Haram terror suspects published by Army Headquarters, was arrested at Panama village, Gunda District, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State following a tip off.

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF lawmaker has reportedly warned former president Robert Mugabe, 94, that he risks losing his right to be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre if he “continues dabbling in opposition politics”.

Mugabe was reportedly backing a newly formed political outfit led by Ambrose Mutinhiri, a former brigadier, who quit the ruling Zanu-PF party recently and formed the New Patriotic Front (NPF) party.

The Presidency has confirmed the release of abducted students of Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

The girls were abducted by the terrorists sect, Boko Haram, sect on February 19.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed this when contacted.

Mr. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, second son of ex-Libyan leader late Muammar Gaddafi, is set to launch his election bid for presidency.

Politically fragmented Libya goes to the polls later this year to get a leader that would unify the country.

Local media reports say Saif who had been detained by a militia in Libya until his release last year, will be joining the race to be the strife-torn country,

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to show evidence that officials of his administration shared billions of dollars before the 2015 general election.

Osinbajo on Monday at a business forum in Abuja alleged that the money in local and foreign currencies was fretted away by a few elements in the Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.

Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr has argued that two of the most influential players in his squad, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses cannot single-handedly decide the outcome of matches at the World Cup, saying they are not in the same category as Super Eagles stars of the 90s.

The Super Eagles’ Radisson Blu Hotel camp in Wroclaw has become a beehive of activities following the arrival of 22 players and the beginning of training sessions yesterday.

Jay-Z and Beyonce are presently in Kingston, Jamaica, where they will be shooting video content they will be using for their upcoming On the Run II Tour.

The power couple caused a stir as they went for a bike ride through the Trenchtown. Jay was seen driving Beyonce around town.

Disturbed by the ruling of a Federal High Court, which restrained it from taking further action on the contentious Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018, the Senate yesterday warned against misinterpretation of the country’s laws.

Such misinterpretations, according to the upper legislative chamber, had made some critics to always see bills passed by the National Assembly as either self serving or infractions on extant laws of the land without ab initio, participating in the process of coming up with the bills.

The Anti-Defamation League slammed the Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel on Tuesday after he likened black people born from white parents to “monkeys” during his weekly sermon on Saturday evening.

“Racially charged comment made by Israeli Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, comparing people of color to “monkeys”, is utterly unacceptable,” the Jewish civil rights organization posted in a tweet.

Australian tycoon James Packer Wednesday quit as director of his gaming empire Crown Resorts as he battles “mental health issues,” stepping back from all commitments, his company said.

The billionaire mogul has been in the spotlight for personal reasons in recent years following his high-profile engagement and subsequent split from US diva Mariah Carey.

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opened a marathon tour of the United States on Tuesday by soaking in praise from US President Donald Trump, who championed close economic ties and increased military sales to the Saudis as he hosted the young heir to the throne in the Oval Office.

Trump and the crown prince looked past the two nations’ differing views about waging war in Yemen as they came together for an Oval Office meeting and working lunch. Instead, they focused on areas of easy agreement: Saudi investments in the US, American arm sales to the kingdom and sharp criticism of their mutual foe: Iran.

A powerful tropical storm that lashed the island of Madagascar has left 20 people dead and affected 19,000 more, according to an official toll.

The storm also closed several national highways that were flooded by the heavy rain, the country's disaster management office has said.

The Dutch animal welfare party submitted draft legislation proposing to ban all slaughter of animals without stunning.

The Party for the Animals’ new bill follows the passing in 2010 of a different bill that banned the custom, which is practiced by Jews and Muslims. The anti-Islam Party for Freedom, a right-wing populist movement, and several other parties joined the 2010 legislation submitted by the left-leaning animal party.

India has confirmed the deaths of 39 construction workers kidnapped by Islamic State militants (IS) in Iraq. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said the DNA of 38 workers matched with bodies found in a mass grave.

Since the kidnapping in Mosul in 2014, the Indian government had always maintained that they were alive.

An Egyptian court has ordered authorities to revoke the operating licenses of the Uber and Careem ride-hailing services and to block their mobile apps and software.

The government and the companies are expected to appeal Tuesday’s administrative court verdict, which would prevent it from being implemented until a higher court weighs in.

Digging in its claws, “Black Panther” has clung to its box-office lead for a fifth straight weekend, taking in an estimated $27 million in North American theaters while fending off two new films, website Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

The Disney/Marvel superhero film has now earned a domestic total of just over $600 million while becoming the first film since “Avatar” in 2009 to hold the top spot for five straight weekends.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Aliyu Usman, an associate of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a four–count amended charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N600 million.

Mr. Usman was initially arranged on October 5, 2017 alongside one Nuru Yahaya and two companies – Leaderettehe Nigeria Limited and Nordeen Global Resources on a 6-count charge of money laundering contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as Amended) and punishable under Section (15) (3) and (4) of the same Act.

The Arewa Consultation Forum (ACF) says Nigeria “can never survive” without the north.

Ibrahim Coomassie, chairman of the forum, said this on Tuesday when the Jammiyar Matan Arewa (JMA), a northern women group, visited the secretariat of the forum in Kaduna.

Coomassie said northern leaders need to work together to change the “negative narrative” portrayed about the region in over the years.

Ex- Kogi Gov, Abubakar Audu’s Son, Mohammed on the run as Dino Melaye is charged with possession of firearms

Mohammed, son of the late Abubakar Audu, a former governor of Kogi state, has allegedly fled to avoid being charged with “illegal possession of firearms” alongside Dino Melaye, lawmaker representing Kogi west senatorial district.

Jimoh Moshood, force public relations officer on Monday said a case of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms have been filed against Melaye at a federal high court, Lokoja, the state capital.

Nick Gordon arrested for violating no contact order against his girlfriend

Nick Gordon has been arrested for violating a no contact order banning him from going near the on-off girlfriend, Laura Leal, who he has repeatedly been accused of beating, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Gordon, who was found legally responsible for the death of Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown in a 2016 civil suit, was booked into jail in Sanford, Florida, just before midnight.

A 30-year-old Nigerian man, Onoseta Oribhabor, has killed himself after murdering his 27-year-old girlfriend, Essozinam “Martine” Assali, in Toronto, Canada.

It was gathered that the police were called to a condo building in the north end of the city, on March 6, and found Oribhabor dead on a balcony. After a further search, they found a woman inside a unit with obvious signs of trauma. .

Pregnant woman shot dead a day after brother’s funeral Lailasnews

Thirty-three-year-old Megan Goosen, who was six months pregnant, and another man have been shot dead in suspected gang violence. Her family has already been in mourning after her brother’s funeral on Saturday. The brother, Houston Goosen, was gunned down in Rembrandt Street, South Africa, last week.

It is believed Megan was trying to flee after rival gangs started shooting in the area just after 9 pm on Sunday.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, says it has released the results of 1,502,978 candidates who sat for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The board disclosed this in a statement signed by its Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin in Abuja on Tuesday.

A 30-year-old man, Mr. Manu Yakubu, has been arraigned before the Nasarawa State High Court for allegedly dumping his six-year-old daughter, Jennifer, in a well.

Yakubu, who resides in the Gidigidi area of the state was said to have allegedly dumped her daughter in the well over alleged witchcraft.

The prosecuting counsel for the police,James Anata, told the court that Yakubu committed the offence on December 8, 2017.